Potato cleaning and barreling device.



A. E. GREEN & (J. A. MGINTOSH- POTATO CLEANING AND BARRELING DEVICE. APPLICATION FILED JUNE 2, 1909.

956,338. Patented Apr. 26, 1910.

' j'fi awuem/kiw ANDREW a. GRAHAM co,wow-umocmwsks. WASHKNGTON v c UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

AUSTIN E. GREEN AND CLYDE A. McINTOSI-I, OF FORT FAIRFIELD, MAINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed June 2, 1909. Serial No. 499,722.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, AUsTIN E. GREEN, a subject of the King of Great Britain, and CLYDE A. MoIN'rosH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Fort Fairfield, in the county of Aroostook and State of Maine, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Potato Cleaning and Barreling Devices; and we do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact de scription of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to a device for facilitating the packing of potatoes and like articles in barrels and the object of the invention is to provide a device of this character whereby the potatoes may be properly screened from all foreign matter and may be easily elevated to a point where they are readily dumped into a barreL'sack or other receptacle.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a device of this character which will ,be adjustable to accommodate different conditions.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, the invention consists of certain novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts, as will be more fully described and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation, showing the device in position for receiving the potatoes; Fig. 2 is a side elevation, showing the device in position for dumping the potatoes into a barrel or other receptacle; and Fig. 3 is a rear elevation partly in section to illustrate the arrangement of screening slats.

Referring to the drawings and particularly to Figs. 1 and 2, 1 represents the supporting frame which comprises front uprights, 2, and diagonal rear legs 3, which are connected to the uprights by the horizontal bars 4. The uprightsv are connected together transversely of the frame by cross bars 6, and the diagonal legs are connected together by a crossbar 7. The uprights 2 extend above the cross bar 4 at either side of the frame and the bars 4 at their ends extend beyond the diagonal legs 3, so as to. form supporting extensions 8, for the stop bar .9. Pivoted to the upper end of the uprights 2 are supporting links 10 having connected to their upper end the screen body 11. These links support the forward end of the screen in either one of its positions and are adapted to oscillate on either side of a vertical line taken through their pivotal connection with the uprights.

The screen body comprises the sides 11, to which are connected the supporting screen bars 12, by means of depending arms 13, secured to the side members and the bars 12 extend transversely across from side to side and support the screen strips 14, which in this instance are separated a considerable distance at their rear end and diverge to a point adjacent the forward end of the body where they are only slightly separated. Ex-

tending rearwardly and diagonally from the middle of the cross bar 12 are the supporting legs 15 for the screen body when in lowered position. These legs are braced by vertical columns 16, and have a transverse strut 17, connecting them together.

The rear end of the screen is elevated by means of a crank 18, which has one leg pivotally secured in bearings 19 secured upon the cross bar 7 and the opposite leg secured in bearings 20, carried upon the strut 17. This crank is formed in separate halves with its vertical portion surrounded by a connecting sleeve 21, which is held in position upon separate portions of the crank by set screws 22. This sleeve permits considerable adjustment between the separate parts of the crank and thereby enables the operator to adjust the position of the receiving end of the screen body. The leg of the crank which is pivoted in bearings 19, is provided with a right-angular upturned portion 23 which is adapted to be received by the diagonal sleeve 24, formed on the end plate 25, and carried by the operating lever 26 which is shown thrown out of operative position in Fig. 2. By this means the lever may be shifted from one position to the other so as to permit the operator to readily load and unload the screen body without moving the lever. It is howerer, desirable sometimes to disconnect the lever from the upturned end 23 of the crank and we therefore have made the same so as to loosely engage this portion whereby it may be readily removed when desired.

As shown in the drawings and particularly in Figs. 1 and 2, we have made the links 10 of separate pieces 10 and 10 connected Patented Apr. 26, 1910. I

together by set screws 10, which travel in suitable slots formed in the halves so as to permit the vertical adjustment of the forward end of the conveyer.

It will be noticed that both the links 10, and the crank 18, oscillate in opposite directions past the vertical center of their pivotal points so that when the screen body is in either of its two opposite positions, it is locked from movement in the opposite directions except by the use of applied power, preferably by means of the lever. The crank 18, has its vertical leg adapted to abut the stop bar 9, so as to limit the forward movement of the screen body, and in order to hold the same positively in such position, we have shown a hook 27, pivoted to the section, 10 of one of the links 10, which is adapted to engage an eye carried by the side 11, and thus positively lock the same from movement in either direction.

When the device is used for sacking potatoes, we preferably employ suitable hooks or sack holders 28, which are secured to the forward end of the sides 11, and are adapted to engage and hold a sack in position to be filled.

From the foregoing description, taken in Having thus described our invention, what we claim is:

1. A device of theclass described comprising a frame, a screen mounted above the frame, adjustable means pivoting the forward end of the screen to the frame, a crank bar adjustably secured to the frame and connected to the rear end of the screen means for adjusting the crank bar, means for operating said crank bar whereby the rear end of the screen may be raised above the level of the forward end of the screen, and means for supporting the rear end of the screen upon the ground.

2. A device of the class described, comprising a frame, a screen mounted above the frame, adjustable links pivotally connecting the forward end of the screen to the frame, a divided crank bar pivotally connected to the screen and having an offset end, a sleeve connecting the divided ends of the crank bar, means for adjustably holding the crank ends therein, an operating lever removably connected to the offset end for operating the crank, and means for supporting the screen upon the ground when depressed by the crank.

In testimony whereof we have hereunto set our hands in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

AUSTIN E. GREEN. CLYDE A. MGINTOSH.

Witnesses HERBERT T. Pownns, EARLoN K. GUILD. 

